WHAT IS A
“LIVING SHORELINE”?
A living shoreline (LSL) refers to the use of vegetation, oyster reefs and other organic features to control erosion, reduce wave energy and improve water quality instead of the traditional hardened inorganic structures such as seawalls, bulkheads and rock revetments. The “Living” focuses on providing valuable habitats for plants and animals as well as shoreline protection. Components can include aquatic vegetation, oyster reefs, sand and stone.
BENEFITS OVER HARDENED
OR CONCRETE SHORELINES
If your property has a natural shoreline, please do what you can to protect this important resource for our community.
LIVING
LANDSCAPE
Not only can it accrue sediment, improve water quality and provide habitat for many species, but a living shoreline can also adapt to climate change and varying sea levels.
COST
EFFECTIVE
During high energy storms, like hurricanes, this natural barrier dissipates the wave energy, diminishing its effect on the shore. This coastal erosion prevention helps maintain property value by providing a long term, cost effective solution to structural upkeep.
LIVING SHORELINE
DEMONSTRATION SITE
Launched in the Summer of 2016, our designs incorporate a combination of elements that make up a successful living shoreline: oyster reefs, rock revetment, seawall, salt marsh grasses and mangroves. The site will eventually stretch for 1/8 of a mile along the eastern shore of the Indian River Lagoon (IRL).
WE’RE HERE TO HELP
Restore Our Shores needs your donations and/or volunteer time to reverse environmental damage. Take a look through our project sections to see the ways our volunteers are already helping or if your interested in learning more about living shorelines, check out these resources:
